Uganda’s steeplechase runner Peruth Chemutai has clinched a silver medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Chemutai, who has been the defending Olympic champion in the event, clocked a time of 8:53.34, setting a new national record for Uganda.
The race was fiercely contested, with World Champion Winfred Yavi from Bahrain narrowly beating Chemutai in the last 40 meters.
Yavi secured the gold with an Olympic record time of 8:52.76, while Kenya’s Faith Cherotich finished third with a time of 8:55.15.
Chemutai’s silver medal is Uganda’s second at this year’s Olympics, following Joshua Cheptegei’s gold in the men’s 10,000m final on Friday, August 2.
Chemutai, who became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal when she took gold in the 3000m steeplechase at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now adds a silver to her impressive collection.
The 25-year-old’s journey to the final was equally impressive, as she finished first in Heat 1 with a time of 9:10.51, the best performance across all heats.
This strong display established her as a favourite for the final, where, although she didn’t claim Gold, ultimately lived up to expectations with her record-breaking performance.
Hailing from the Bukwo District, Chemutai took up running in 2013 after attending the District Athletics Championships in Bukwo as a casual fan.
Her early promise was evident when she won silver medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia.
Chemutai’s rise continued at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she stunned pre-race favourites like Beatrice Chepkoech and Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi to win gold with a time of 9:01.45, setting a national record.
She became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal in any sport.
In 2024, Chemutai’s form was again on display when she won the 3000m steeplechase at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, clocking 8:55.09 to break her national record and move up to 6th on the all-time top lists.
